Design tip: Paper art from Venice
Paper Art of Cartavenezia
Anyone who passes the narrow Cala Longa in the narrow streets of Venice in the district of Santa Croce stops at the latest before the house number 2125. In the displays of the tiny girl Cartavenezia, cream-colored handmade paper is arranged into poetic still lifes: inside gilded bowls, rough-edged books, bookmarks adorned with delicate reliefs, and ornate trinkets. The mild light of delicately painted lampshades sheds light on this gorgeous paper theater.
Cartavenezia is Fernando Masone's empire. Carta means paper in Italian. But this is not ordinary paper. The leaves seem to be more suitable for composing hot songs of love than as a snappy scrap for notes. You want to touch it, gently run it over with your finger. Fernando knows the magical effect of his papers and has therefore unmistakably hung a collection of snow-white "respectful gloves" for the visitors.
In 1995, Fernando led a handmade paper workshop at the International School of Graphic Arts in Venice. There he met Zelda Rocchi. The two formed a creative community for many years, expressing their idiosyncrasies and preferences in their paper art works. That Fernando is a trained ceramist, you can see his work. Artful reliefs characterize the leaves. Traditional paper is far too shallow for him. This is more like a delicious flatbread, on the surface of which elegant birds of paradise and slightly veiled women cavort. Zelda lightly dipped golden tendrils and silver ornaments on lamps and books and tirelessly invented new trinkets. Although everyone now goes his own way, Zelda's art has left many traces in Fernando's small shop. Her favorite motive is shoes. On the cap of the slippers bronzenes foliage shines. How graceful they look. On necklaces and ear rings rustle balls and small sculptures made of paper. The large booklets are held together with strong cotton thread. If you open it, there is a soft crash in the room.
On the next page: making paper - a sensual work
Poetic Still LifeFernando knows the effect of his papers and has therefore hung white "respectful gloves" for the visitors
The workshop of Fernando is located in the former convent of Saints Cosma and Damiano on the island of Giudecca. The secretive site of the 15th century today houses workshops and workshops for many artists behind its red brick walls. From time to time, Fernando organizes his workshops here.
With a view of the large green garden, the paper is drawn. Pure cotton. As in the old days: soak, fix, drip and squeeze. On clothespins hang the leaves on the ceiling to dry. The reliefs run along with template through a hand-driven press. The loftier motifs are carefully created page by page and then end up in a huge vise for a longer while. Making paper is a sensual job, one that requires a lot of patience and time.
Variations on classic motifs are Fernando's specialty: men with goat heads and long tails. "The Venetian, the famous lions and the birds that adorn almost every palazzo in Venice, we do because of the tourists," he says. He prefers to tinker furniture with his papers.
So if you let yourself drift through the old streets of Venice and accidentally look through the window of Cartavenezia in the store, with a little luck, Fernando spotted, as he just let milk-white flowers grow on a book cover with a light hand.
Addresses: where you can buy works of art made of paper
Carta Venezia 2125, Calle Longa (Santa Maria Mater Domini), 30135 Venice, Tel. 00 39/04 15 24 12 83
Beautiful things made of paper but you can also find in these stores with us:
- Waltraud BethgeFine paper, stationery, leather accessories, www.bethge-hamburg.de
- Book Art PaperMaterials for bookbinding and paper-making, Tel. 068 94/990 09 80, www.buch-kunst-papier.de
- GutenbergPapers and accessories in the Gutenberg Museum, Liebfrauenplatz 5, 55116 Mainz, Tel. 061 31/22 71 20, www.gutenberg-shop.de
On the next page: Fotoshow - Paper Art by Cartavenezia
